Wood is a natural fiber. This seems obvious, but this fact brings with it some implications that not every builder adequately considers, until a job gone wrong makes it too late. So to bring it back to extreme basics, lumber is manufactured from the cellulose stems of large trees, and while humans tend to think of the function of wood in terms of floors and walls, the tree itself uses these fibers to transport moisture and nutrients from the roots to the leaves.

In other words, untreated wood is a virtual sponge, designed by nature’s goodness to absorb humidity and expand to accommodate an increased supply of it. While this is perfect for the needs of a living tree, it can be disastrous for the home builder who fails to take into account this basic property of lumber.

Preventing climate-related warping and buckling is a task which must be approached proactively. For builders in moist environments, guarding against humidity and temperature-related damage should be considered at each phase of the planning and installation process.

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The shopping list for a wooden flooring building project includes a great deal of “hardware”: lumber, fittings, screws, bolts, and nails, tools for cutting and measuring, pads for floating panel floors, and other various objects of blunt description and solid composition.

After filling several pallets with these items, it’s no wonder that many first-time floor layers neglect the “software” which holds the whole assembly together. Oftentimes, these smaller items are left as an afterthought, but this can be a serious mistake. Your choice in liquid carpentry products will determine the long-term success of your wooden floor installation, so consider your needs in this regard carefully before you set the first board.

The glues and sealants used in woodcraft have a common foe: moisture. Therefore, it is critical to examine the water-resistance properties of the products you plan to use on your floor. Construction in humid climates requires a higher grade of mold resistance properties as well to prevent rot.

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A wood floor seems to be deceptively easy to install. Many home improvement enthusiasts, inspired by experts like Bob Vila who make the job look simple, run to the hardware store for a table saw and some lengths of lumber, figuring that the perfect floor they saw on TV can be in their home with the right tools and a little elbow grease.

And as many have discovered, to their dismay, that it’s often not as simple as professional contractors make it look. The plain fact is that installing a wood floor is a very easy job…to do the wrong way.

Engineered flooring has been obtainable for over four decades, but has been utilized primarily by larger contractors until recently, when the do-it-yourself crowd discovered the advantages. Among these is a 15-20% improvement in load bearing strength, a machined fit that matches planks perfectly, and a lower overall cost in terms of error avoidance and time. Today, nearly half of all wooden floors are built using computer-generated design specs provided by the lumber suppliers to fit your custom needs.

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Installing a hardwood floor represents a major investment of time and money. Whether you do the work yourself or hire a contractor, preserving the shine and veneer of the most-punished surface in the home is a top priority.

Wood treatments often contain toxic ingredients, such as toluene, which is hardly the sort of stuff you want toddlers or pets crawling over, so consider this factor when selecting a top coat for wooden flooring.

In general, the darker the stain; the more natural the formula will be, as the most toxic substances in wood sealers and protectors are employed to preserve a transparent finish. Natural oils and pigments, especially those approved for use in the food industry, are to be preferred over synthetic blends which are not appropriate for human consumption. After all, even if you don’t plan to dine on the floor, shouldn’t it be fit to eat off of anyhow?

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Hardwood is nature’s finest building material. Strong, durable, and readily shaped and molded, technology has not been able to match the exquisite qualities of rich hewn lumber, and timbered cherry, oak, and other traditional species remain the source of choice for twenty-first century builders.

Harvesting trees was once a relatively harmless activity, and logging could be maintained on a small, local scale without measurable impact on the forests. However, as the human population explodes, and the global demand for lumber rises, deforestation is rapidly becoming a concern. Increasingly, builders and suppliers are turning to more sustainable methods, in order to ensure that future generations not only have wood for building, but vibrant groves of old-growth woodlands and clean air to breathe as well.

The best answer to this challenge has been the tree farm, an innovation which economically replaces native timbering with an eye toward the times ahead. Not only do these farms prevent the denuding of critical habitats, by planting exotic species such as teak, they have actually reduced the cost of these woods which once had to be exported from remote tropical locations.

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